Anadolu Yakası City Guide
A Day on the Asian Side of Istanbul
We know that one day will not be enough to see the Anatolian Side of Istanbul. Nevertheless, we have prepared recommendations for you to discover this side in the best way in one day. What to eat on the Asian Side of Istanbul? What are the places to visit on the Asian Side? We created a travel plan with the answers to these questions.
Breakfast in the Asian Side of Istanbul
There is nothing better than starting the day with a healthy and delicious breakfast. Before starting your trip to Istanbul, we recommend you to have a delicious breakfast on the Anatolian Side. You can try different tastes in the venues located around Caddebostan and Kalamış, thus can get away from the chaos of the city and prepare for the new day.
Places to Visit on the Asian Side of Istanbul
A unique route awaits you as you drive north from Üsküdar. With the unique view of the Bosphorus and mansions on your left and historical buildings and gardens decorated with redbuds on your right, we are sure that it will be difficult to pay attention to the road. Mihrimah Sultan Mosque in Üsküdar square will be the first of the buildings that will attract your attention on this route. The building was built by Mimar Sinan for Mihrimah Sultan, daughter of Suleiman the Magnificent and Hürrem Sultan. Mimar Sinan built a mosque with the same name in Edirnekapı, inspired by the name Mihrimah, which means sun and moon. His calculation that the sun and the moon will rise behind the külliye in Üsküdar and set after the mosque in Edirnekapı has been effective in determining these points. While visiting this magnificent building, you will also witness a wonderful story.
The history and sincerity of Kuzguncuk and Çengelköy will accompany your Bosphorus adventure. We recommend that you choose one of these two points that bring the neighborhood culture and old Istanbul life to our day and take a rest in one of the places overlooking the Bosphorus. Beylerbeyi Palace, located about 3 km from Kuzguncuk and built by Sultan Abdulaziz between 1861-1865, is one of the buildings you should see. The palace, whose architect is Sarkis Balyan, one of the valuable and talented members of the Balyan family, is the birthplace of Murat IV. It is worth adding that Abdulaziz was personally interested in the decoration of this elegant palace, which has a magnificent garden and features eastern and western architecture.
A Delicious Break
You can select a wonderful venue to take a short break from your Istanbul trip and continue to tour the city with the same energy for the rest of the day. Especially around Çengelköy, you can have a pleasant lunch and try new flavors without detouring. You can choose the menus where seafood meets different tastes for lunch, or you can taste the prominent dishes of Turkish cuisine.
Continue Exploring
Küçüksu Pavilion, located on the Üsküdar-Beykoz coastal road, was built by Sultan Abdulmejid. Completed in 1856, the building is the design of Nigoğayos Balyan. Küçüksu Pavilion was one of the buildings used by the sultans for resting since Mahmut I, and gained its current appearance with Abdulmejid. After visiting the pavilion, you can take a walk near the Göksu Stream.
Anadolu Hisarı, also known as Güzelce Hisar, is located at the point where Göksu Creek meets the Bosphorus. The fortress was built by Bayezid I in 1395. Anadolu Hisarı was used together with Rumeli Hisarı on the European Side to control the Bosphorus during the conquest of Istanbul. Let us remind you that the narrowest part of the Bosphorus is between these two fortresses.
Evening Pleasure
To end on your Istanbul trip joyfully, there is nothing better than a great dinner. If you wish, you can watch the lights of Istanbul with the evening view and enjoy a pleasant feast with wonderful dishes. It is quite easy to find options to suit every taste in Istanbul. You can enhance your evening with selections from world cuisines, traditional tastes of Ottoman and Turkish cuisine or Mediterranean cuisine selections that the Bosphorus view deserves.
Nightlife on Asian Side of Istanbul
There are many activities that come to mind when it comes to nightlife in Istanbul. Our suggestion is to check the Istanbul schedules for concerts or performing arts before coming to the city, but even if you make an unplanned trip, you can find tickets for many organizations at the last minute. If you haven't had the chance to plan for concerts, performing arts or events, keep in mind that there are many entertainment venues with different concepts all around the Anatolian Side of Istanbul.